Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Encyclical
of
His
Eminence
Metropolitan
NEKTARIOS
of
Hong
Kong
and
Southeast
Asia
for
Holy
Pascha
From
all
my
heart
I
greet
you
on
the
greatest
of
all
of
the
Feasts
—the
day
of
the
radiant
Resurrection
of
Christ
—with
the
eternal,
and
never-‐ceasing
joyous
words:
Christ
is
Risen!
The
Resurrection
of
Christ
is
the
greatest
event
in
history
and
also
is
the
fundamental
truth
and
absolute
fact
of
the
Christian
faith.
It
is
the
central
experience
and
essential
sermon
of
the
Church.
It
is
what
distinguishes
Christianity
from
every
other
religion.
The
other
religions
have
mortal
leaders,
while
the
head
of
the
Church
is
the
risen
Jesus
Christ.
The
Resurrection
of
Christ
is
the
renewal
of
human
nature
and
the
recreation
of
the
human
race.
Christ,
risen
from
the
dead,
cracked
the
fortress
of
death
and
took
“captivity
captive”
(Ps
67:17).
All
the
limitations
of
our
createdness
are
torn
asunder.
Death
is
swallowed
up
in
victory
and
life
is
liberated.
“For
as
by
a
man
came
death,
by
a
man
came
also
the
resurrection
of
the
dead.
For
as
in
Adam
all
die,
so
also
in
Christ
shall
all
be
made
alive”
(1
Cor.
15:21-‐22).
Pascha
is
the
dawn
of
the
new
and
unending
day
of
our
Lord
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ!
The
Resurrection
of
Christ
bestows
illumination,
energizes
souls,
brings
forgiveness,
trans]igures
lives,
creates
saints
and
gives
eternal
joy.
We
can
share
in
and
experience
the
resurrection
of
Christ
in
two
ways.
First,
it
is
the
source
for
the
continual
mystical
and
spiritual
regeneration
of
our
dead
souls.
Second,
it
is
the
cause
of
our
resurrection
from
the
dead
on
the
Last
Day.
The
miracle
of
Pascha
and
the
consequences
of
Christ’s
resurrection,
the
gift
of
eternity
and
plenitude,
are
always
accessible
to
everyone.
But
we
have
to
emphasize
the
truth
that
salvation
is
accomplished
only
in
perfect
freedom,
through
an
act
of
faith.
No
one
can
be
compelled
to
believe
in
or
to
love
God.
To
receive
the
grace
of
the
Paschal
mystery
and
to
keep
it
operative
in
us
we
must
want
to
engage
ourselves
actively
and
creatively
in
the
godly
life
by
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
We
express
our
will
to
join
the
risen
Christ
if
we
decide
to
follow
in
our
lives
the
spiritual
struggle
of
repentance.
We
have
to
choose
to
leave
our
love
united
to
the
life
of
the
]lesh
whose
end
is
death
and
corruption.
We
have
to
crucify
our
love
for
the
]lesh
to
the
Cross
of
Christ.
On
Holy
Thursday
and
on
Great
Friday
we
heard
that
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
“in
His
surpassing
love
showed
us
the
most
excellent
way
of
humility...”
and
“He
is
who
endured
704 Universal Trade Center, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Hong Kong-Tel: (00852) 25738328-Fax: (00852) 25738379
Website: www.omhksea.org email: office@omhksea.org
spitting
and
scourging
and
blows,
the
Cross
and
death,
for
the
salvation
of
the
world...”.
So,
if
we
want
to
]ind
salvation
and
to
unite
ourselves
to
risen
Christ,
we
have
to
walk
on
the
path
of
humility,
sufferings,
and
repentance.
However,
we
often
forget
that
salvation
does
not
come
as
a
result
of
individualistic
piety,
but
through
a
living
and
dynamic
relationship
with
the
Church.
As
baptized
devout
members
of
the
Church
we
become
part
of
a
community
which
is
moving
together
towards
the
Kingdom
of
God.
It
is
this
community
which
af]irms
and
de]ines
our
Christian
identity.
In
and
through
the
Church
we
appropriate
the
transforming
power
of
the
death
and
resurrection
of
Christ,
which
places
upon
us
the
obligation
to
actualize
the
renunciations
demanded
of
us
by
the
Gospel
in
our
everyday
activities.
The
fruits
of
Christ’s
saving
death
and
resurrection
are
granted
to
us
and
are
accomplished
especially
through
the
sacraments.
Through
them
the
new
life
is
extended
and
given
to
the
members
of
His
body,
the
Church.
The
sacraments
prepare
the
faithful
for
the
resurrectional
life
and
simultaneously
make
that
life
a
living
reality
in
this
present
age.
Through
them
Christ
calls
us
to
share
intimately
in
what
is
divine:
immortality
and
incorruptibility.
He
sends
and
grants
us
the
Holy
Spirit,
who
continually
vivi]ies
our
souls
and
actualizes
within
us
the
hidden
mysteries
of
God’s
kingdom,
joining
us
to
God
in
a
personal
union.
On
this
joyful
day
of
Pascha,
rejoice
in
the
risen
Lord!
Bear
with
spiritual
joy
the
lighted
Paschal
Candles
and
with
your
devout
lives
“Let
your
light
shine
before
men,
that
they
may
see
your
good
works,
and
glorify
your
Father
who
is
in
heaven.”
From
my
heart
I
pray
that
the
Risen
Lord
bless
you
all,
and
generously
bestow
on
you
the
life-‐giving
Light
of
His
grace.
✝
Nektarios
Metropolitan
of
Hong
Kong
and
Southeast
Asia
Note: To be read during the Paschal Service on Holy and Great Saturday night.
704 Universal Trade Center, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Hong Kong-Tel: (00852) 25738328-Fax: (00852) 25738379
Website: www.omhksea.org email: office@omhksea.org